4TH FLOOR GALLERY

CONSIDERING THE CIRCLE

November 16 – January 4, 2019

Opening Reception: Friday, November 16 | 7 – 10 PM

Artists consider the circle from numerous viewpoints and in various media, including sculpture, painting, drawing, calligraphy, photography, film and video, tapestry and others. The Greeks saw it as a symbol of perfection, but is this concept still valid? With guest curator Carole Harmel.

PATTERNS OF NATURE

Throughout history, artists have been fascinated with the depiction and interpretation of nature, especially as exemplified in landscape painting. Today, many of the underlying patterns and relationships in the natural world that have been revealed by science and technology are providing new inspiration for artists as expressive themes and images.

Bridgeport Art Center’s
6th Annual Art Competition

This is the 6th year for the juried art competition and exhibition, awarding $3,000 in prizes to Chicago and vicinity artists in an awards ceremony. The Annual Art Competition was created to showcase the exceptional talents and abilities of Bridgeport and Chicago area artists.

The competition is open to all artists, aged 18 and over, who live or have studios within a 150-mile radius of Chicago. Work must have been created within the last three years. The competition accepts a broad spectrum of art media and styles.

OUTSIDE THE PRACTICE: Artworks Created by Architects and Designers

How do Chicago architects and designers express themselves when not constrained by the practical requirements of contemporary practice? See them display their artistic talents through painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, and other media. With guest co-curators Chicago architects Stephen Wierzbowski and Edward Keegan.

.

.

CREATIVE FURNISHINGS 2

November 17 – January 5, 2018

CREATIVE FURNISHINGS: A Collection from Chicago Designers + Makers is an exhibition brought to you by the CREATIVE FURNITURE DESIGNERS ASSOCIATION and the BRIDGEPORT ART CENTER.

Highlighting the unique perspective of individual designers and their take on furniture and decorative arts for your home and living spaces, this exhibition offer the finest works from the Chicago region. Awards will be presented during the OPENING RECEPTION on Friday, November 17th.

BRIDGEPORT ART CENTER RESIDENT ARTISTS’ SHOWCASE

In recent years, the number of Bridgeport Art Center resident artists has grown to over 150 people. Opening on September 15, a large exhibition of residents’ work will be on view in the 4th floor Bridgeport Art Center Gallery. This is a terrific opportunity for the general public to enjoy an exciting overview of contemporary art in Chicago, free of charge, in addition to a number of demonstrations in the Gallery during two upcoming Open Studios (3rd Friday of each month).

ENCAUSTIC 2017: Rebirth of an Ancient Medium

July 21 – September 8, 2017

Encaustic painting is one of the oldest painting techniques, dating back to the ancient Greeks, who used it to caulk ships and paint funerary portraits on sarcophagi. In Greek, the word “encaustic” means “to heat or burn in”. Encaustic consists of natural bees wax and damar resin (crystallized tree sap). Heat is used throughout the process, from melting the beeswax and resin to fusing the layers of wax.

The artists included in this exhibition embrace the use of wax, not as just another option in a wide range of available art media, but as a dynamic, organic, almost living medium that manifests the seductive qualities of tactility, translucency, and mystery through their work in a singular way.

CURATORS CREATE

May 19- July 7, 2017

Curators Create presents work by artists who currently serve (or have served in the past) as curators at a major art center, gallery, museum, college, university or other exhibition venue. The process of selecting the artist/curators for the exhibit has shown that there are many other artist/curators in this region who could be part of such a show in addition to the ten whose work is represented in this exhibit.

Photo Credit: Stano Grezdo

.

.

PAPER ARTS:

TWO- AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL
WORKS EXPLORING THE MEDIUM OF PAPER

March 17- May 5, 2017

Artists explore the seductive versatility and sculptural potential of the medium by cutting, folding, tearing, creasing, binding together, weaving, or otherwise transforming one of the oldest art materials, paper, to express ideas and emotions.

Photo Credit: Katherine Nemanich – “The Woods So Wild”

5th Annual Art Competition

January 20 – March 3, 2017
Awards Ceremony: January 20 | 7 – 10 PM

This is the 5th year for the juried art competition and exhibition, awarding $3,000 in prizes to Chicago and vicinity artists in an awards ceremony. The Annual Art Competition was created to showcase the exceptional talents and abilities of Bridgeport and Chicago area artists.

The competition is open to all artists, aged 18 and over, who live or have studios within a 150-mile radius of Chicago. Work must have been created within the last three years. The competition accepts a broad spectrum of art media and styles.